(NewMediaWire) - Atlanta, Ga. - January 23, 2015 - Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) announced that metro Atlanta ranked No. 1 in growth among the top 25 U.S. markets, according to Smith Travel Research. Occupancy in the City of Atlanta also surpassed 70 percent for the first time in its history.
“Atlanta has momentum and we are seeing it in our numbers,” said William Pate, president and CEO, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB). “This level of occupancy represents a milestone for the city’s hospitality community and it is a direct result of Atlanta’s long-standing commitment to making our city a premier destination for meetings and conventions.”
The City of Atlanta’s record-breaking occupancy can be largely attributed to a rise in group occupancy which was up seven percent over 2013. Increases in occupancy also fuel hotel development. Several new hotels are planned for Atlanta, including five that are set to open in downtown Atlanta’s convention corridor over the next three years and a potential new convention hotel at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Established in 1913, ACVB is a private, nonprofit organization created to favorably impact the Atlanta economy through conventions and tourism.